WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced an agreement to a lawsuit
filed by the Department against the City of Hollywood, Fla., resolving
allegations that the city violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized
Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA) by discriminating against the Hollywood Community
Synagogue based on its religious denomination, the Chabad Lubavitch movement of
Orthodox Judaism.

The settlement agreement, which must still be approved by a federal district
judge, resolves the case between the United States and the City of Hollywood,
as well as a consolidated lawsuit filed by the Hollywood Community Synagogue
against the city and a city commissioner.

“All religious associations must be treated equally and fairly under the law,”
said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “I
am pleased that we could reach an agreement with the City of Hollywood that
protects and respects the rights of the Chabad to practice its religious
beliefs on its property.

The case arose from the city’s handling and ultimate denial of the Hollywood
Community Synagogue’s application for a zoning permit to operate a synagogue
from two single-family homes in a residential district of the city. According
to the government’s complaint, the city routinely grants permits to houses of
worship to operate in residential neighborhoods, but denied such a permit to
the Hollywood Community Synagogue. The city also allows other religious and
non-religious assemblies to operate in residential neighborhoods, but has not
taken action against any of them for violating the city’s zoning regulations.
The complaint alleges that the differential treatment of the synagogue was due
to its religious denomination.

As part of the settlement agreement with the United States, the city agreed to
allow the Hollywood Community Synagogue to operate permanently as a house of
worship at its properties, and to expand if it should acquire additional
properties within a block of its current location. The city also agreed that
its leaders and managers, and certain city employees, will attend training on
the requirements of RLUIPA. In addition, the city will adopt new complaint
procedures, and report periodically to the Justice Department. In a separate
agreement, filed with the court at the same time, the city also agreed to pay
the Synagogue $2 million in damages and attorneys fees and costs.

“Today’s agreement makes clear that the Hollywood Community Synagogue has the
same rights as other religious associations,” said R. Alexander Acosta, U.S.
Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, who was Assistant Attorney
General for the Civil Rights Division when the government’s complaint was
filed. “In a community as diverse as ours, we must guard against unlawful
discrimination. The U.S. Attorney's Office stands ready to assist in this
effort.”

RLUIPA, enacted in 2000, prohibits religious discrimination in land-use and
zoning decisions. Since 2001, the Civil Rights Division has reviewed more than
118 cases involving RLUIPA and has opened 26 full investigations. These have
included investigations of unequal treatment of Christian, Jewish, Muslim,
Hindu and Buddhist houses of worship and religious schools. Most of these have
been resolved amicably through voluntary modification of potentially
discriminatory zoning regulations.

Individuals who believe that they suffered religious discrimination in land-use
or zoning may contact the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at
1-800-896-7743. Additional information on the Justice Department’s efforts to
combat religious discrimination may be found at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/religdisc/religionpamp/htm.